In order to counterfeit drugs, probabilities are high that the central government may make it compulsory for patients or their representatives to show identity cards to buy medicines from pharmacists across the country. This move is aimed at mapping area-wise usage of drugs and to keep a track of medicines through its batch number that will be provided by retailers through e-platform. The patients would have to just show an identity proof (PAN card, voter ID card, Aadhaar card, or any I-card issued by a government authority) to drug retailers and their details would be registered on the portal being developed by the health ministry for regulating the sale of medicines.
Health ministry official said that this strategy is to make it must for drug manufacturers to provide every detail of the drug at e-portal and accordingly retailers would also be asked to do so. If any case of a fake drug…
